N lotsa thoughts to pen down...... For starters..all the hue n cry on racist comments on Big Bro..whatever..are the Brits ok English racist..are they?
A lil bit of coincidence while this Shilpa episode was gettin blown out by media n Big Bro getting free marketing..I was on a 1 week trip to london n think the Brits are indeed ...well will save it for later..
First early morning pickup from the airport was nice..I always love talking to the cabbies...they reflect what the media doesnt, anywhere across the globe this holds true...so I started off with my ususal ice breaker..'Hows your day so far..' The guy opened up was very nice n friendly n in the 45 min ride was soo enthusiastic bout where to go, what to do in my too short a trip of 1 week. He took pride in what he knew and it really peps em up when you are all ears to what hez gotto say.But I wanted to know more...always I try to get to know what they 'the working class' think of the expats...
This guy was a half Irish and half English, had traveled across globe for 17 years in water and air working for cruise ships and airlines n now driving a cab. He was all excited when he described his visit to Mumbai..then Bombay n the dinner hosted by his Indian colleague. He said he has never seen such a huge spread of exotic food which he in his own words was 'celebration of food'. Thank you very much yes we do take our food very seriously..Then he did hit upon the more delicate issue..the immigrants from Poland, Romania, Czec..taking up all jobs(not the white collar) working for a pittance, sneaking into the system such that it affects the pensions (clndt understand clearly..) He didnt have any complaints against us 'brown' or the IT workers (professional?) nor nething bout BPO....well he wasnt kicked out of his desk job..so he wldnt complain. Overall I cld draw similies bet this and the complaints by Americans who complain in all grades/work groups...the blue collar jobs taken by Mexicans and White collar by Indians(ahem coin a word 'professional workers'). Same in Singapore. I remember a Mandarin cabbie(outspoken nice n friendly not exactly racist) saying 'you people(Indians) make five times our salary but carry lunch boxes to save money' hehe there was humor n the context of discussion is entirely different so i wont dig deep into it now.
So yes my first serious encounter/talk with a Brit was absorbing if at all he had anything against anyone it was the government n nt based on colors. Fine. The whole day I spent walking up n down Oxford street supposed/alleged fashion capital of London...I thought Orchard street in Singapore was more fashionable...neways never mind.
The next day I was down in the lobby of the hotel and requested for a cab. The tall guy clad in bright red uniform n long hat ( there is a word for the guy who does this @ hotel door I forgot)went to fetch one from the street!!!!(very primitive approach I wld say ,even Bahrain hotels just call for a cab.. are the Brits preserving their cultural heritage??? I dunno). Ok well a 'Black cab' did arrive I stepped out of the hotel and walked towards the cab...the cab driver looked at me drove forward by a few feet...said something with animated gesture..(didnt hear a word) and drove away.....I just stood there stranded looked around n went back to the lobby. Another hotel staff standing in the lobby ( a black guy!!!) came to my rescue n said those cabbies are crazy may be he wanted to catchup on some Chelsea game...a football game early morning???? again I dunno....
Chill, relax..its all cool just 1 cabbie and I cant make any judgements on Brits. Twice I got cold shoulder response from a waitress and a bartender..not exactly rude but not too friendly either...hey Ive been there done that but the bar(it was a nice underground pub) was totally empty when i stepped in and I wont give it(her attitude) to her stress or the lack of it. The waitress at Angus steakhouse(was not even a Brit) was worse..She literally saw me like a convict, gave me the least possible service, I didnt really mind, left her a 10% tip of my 45 pound bill and still she gave me a sceptic look...wonder what that look meant...rehne de...she will grow up.
Late on friday night me n my friend were walking down the Subway...a bunch of drunk Brits walked right across one of em turned and said an exaggerated 'hellloooooooow' , I smiled n said hi.My friend whoz been there(London) for a while laughed and said I shldnt respond to those 'cat calls' cos he wld say that hello(with that funny tone) to only us brown skins...oh ok, I didnt know that..
Overall was a mixed experience...wasnt all too pleasant...I wld for sure call them stiff necks. Stark contrast to where I am now...just after I came back from U.K Id gone to get my car I had left for body work to fix a few bruises...I was so glad to see an exceptional job done on my car so I went up to the manager and said I am glad , its as good as new...Instead of getting flattered this Arab guy says dont open yourselves talking like that and get vulnerable...n got me grounded..He meant dont invite evil('nazar') by such talk and said touchwood(he wld have said Alhamdulilla had I been an Arab or a muslim) His response and genuine look in his face made my day and relieved that I wanst in the land of mechanical, automated 'hi how are you's....Alhamdulilla.
